Author: cathy tully

We’ve all seen the media storm surrounding plastic consumption and the damage our over-use of plastic is having on the environment. One of the first products highlighted in the media was single-use plastic straws, and as a result their use is decreasing daily and the movement to eliminate them altogether is incredibly strong. Of course, the plastic problem goes far beyond just straws; “We look at straws as one of the gateway issues to help people start thinking about the global plastic pollution problem,” Plastic Pollution Coalition CEO, Dianna Cohen, told Business Insider. “They’ve been designed to be used for a very short amount of time and Read More …

It’s almost here. After many months of watching GDPR getting steadily closer and closer, it’s now just around the corner. If you have been viewing it with a sense of inescapable doom, rather as you would a tornado on the horizon that you couldn’t outrun, then you can stop worrying and relax. Yes, GDPR is complex and compliance is obligatory, but that doesn’t mean it should be a problem for anyone as long as they take the right advice and act now. The issue of electronic payslips in relation to GDPR has been a cause for concern because the Read More …

ACES magazine is always a cracking read for anyone in the business community of East Sussex and with a three-page feature on Smith & Ouzman’s secure print services, we reckon the latest issue is unmissable! Smith & Ouzman’s Dinah Ouzman and Adam Jeacock met up with ACES’ Ian Trevett to talk about the many print security services we can offer to local businesses, including secure document storage and how we can help businesses comply with the imminent new GDPR data protection laws. Smith & Ouzman is recognised internationally as a leader of security print services but we have been Read More …

These days most people are pretty switched on about the safe disposal of personal documents such as utility bills and bank statements, anything that could be used for identity fraud or clearing out your bank account. But are we so careful when it comes to fraud within the workplace? Possibly not. The trouble with the people who commit this kind of crime is that you can’t spot them; they could be an employee or a colleague, as unlikely as that may seem. The fraudster who commits crimes by forging your signature or hacking your email can look exactly the Read More …

December is always a time for reflection and as we approach the end of 2017 and look back over what’s happened around the world this year, anyone could be forgiven for feeling despondent about what democracy really means. Political polarisation and the rise of populism create a danger for democracy and threaten transparency and trust. In many countries, including the UK and the US, more or less half the population did not get the result they wanted when they cast their votes recently, which has created division and instability. But it would be wrong to buy into this world Read More …

As a professional in a market that exists to support people and their data you will no doubt be well aware that GDPR is now firmly on the horizon. This short acronym is a bit like an iceberg – it looks like you should be able to navigate safely around it but in truth you know there’s much, much more to it underneath and it could cause you lasting damage if you don’t approach it in the right way. GDPR stands for General Data Protection Regulation and it comes into force in Europe on 25th May 2018. But with Read More …

Errors in delivering polling cards to voters meant that many were left unsure of how to vote in the upcoming elections. Polling cards contain information on where and when to vote. Though one can vote without their polling card, there were concerns that people wouldn’t realise this and would not know how to look up their polling station online. Potentially, it could mean people not turning up to vote at all, with indicates clear consequences for the election. Shepway District Council was forced to write to effected electors to tell them their polling station after hundreds of people had apparently not Read More …

The 11th Southern Africa Association for Education Assessment Conference The Malawi National Examination Board (MANEB) will be hosting the 11th annual conference of the Southern Africa Association for Education Assessment (SAAEA) at Nkopola Lodge in Mangochi, Malawi from 17th July to 19th July 2017. Conference Theme:“Promoting Excellence in Assessment for Quality Education” Smith & Ouzman is partnering with MANEB and ICAM who are your hosts for #SAAEA2017. We have a proud heritage of assisting educational institution in Africa in the form of sponsorships for various conferences and we look forward to helping make #SAAEA2017 a huge success. The below Read More …

Smith & Ouzman’s Finance Director Peter Ellis has been confirmed as a member of the Bank of England Decision Maker Panel for Brexit implications. The Bank of England acts as an advisory body to the Government and plays a key role in managing the economy. In the wake of the Brexit vote it has launched an important initiative to engage Finance Directors from across industries and around the country to be part of a Decision Maker Panel. The purpose of the panel is to help the Bank understand the implications of Brexit for businesses on the ground. Peter will Read More …

Seeing the arrival of these ambulances in Kenya is a positive conclusion to a very painful experience for all concerned at Smith & Ouzman; it had long been hoped that this might be the outcome of negotiations between the British and Kenyan governments. Lessons have been learnt which have benefited Smith & Ouzman’s ongoing development, with new market leading bribery and corruption prevention management systems being put in place. Smith & Ouzman is also the first company in the security print industry to attain BS10500 accreditation (soon to become ISO37001). We are sure that our experiences have helped open the eyes Read More …